Developing and Running a Wiki

What is a Wiki?

• a Web site that allows those with access the power to edit or add content, track who made changes, and allow revisions to previous versions if needed.

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> continuously “under revision” - always in process.
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• a simple to use, collaborative website whose purpose is the sharing of the creative process and product by many - a group consensus.

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> a fast way to get text online - an online sketch pad. The word "wiki" comes from Hawaiian language, meaning "quick" or "fast."
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• Video clip explaining a wiki: http://www.commoncraft.com/video-wikis-plain-english

Benefits

• Higher order thinking - analysing, synthesising and evaluating (http://prometheus-frankenstein.wikispaces.com/).

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> Users feel a sense of responsibility - to participate, to keep the quality high.
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• People have time to think before they edit. What is written can be well thought out.

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> Easy to edit pages and create new pages.
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• Multiple authorship.

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> Useful for modelling.
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• Can set the level of security and access.

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> Can include files: Word documents, video clips, images, sound, etc.

Using a wiki in education

• Can link from MyClasses

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> Tracking a student's or a groups progress (versions with changes saved) - notetaking, draft, revise and submit - teacher can give suggestions, put student back on track, give feedback (http://1006-w08.wikispaces.com/Kitchen Scale).
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• Discussion by peers - questions, ideas (discussion - http://art110.wikispaces.com/message/list/home?o=0 ).

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> Taking collaborative notes over time - group authoring - equal access to the most recent version (http://aslaact.wikispaces.com/Library+databases, http://blendedlearning.wikispaces.com/What is Blended Learning).
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• Collecting notes/data on a topic during a class (e.g. Spirals in nature). Brainstorm first, set out as an outline on the wiki. Students find info., can use Word to write in own words and paste into the wiki. Encourage adding bibliographic references.

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> As a website - easy to create web pages, simple user interface and navigation, easy to add images and documents and links.
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• As a hotlist of links - easier than editing MyClasses or a web page.

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> An (ongoing) database of unit plan for the semester. Could include what a student is expected to read, be up to add dates, unit outline, communication, (lock pages you don't want changed). Discussion area open for students. (Calendar - http://senior-calendar-07-08.wikispaces.com/, list - http://cct300-f07.wikispaces.com/).
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• An ongoing database of sharable lesson plans.

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> A review or journal page for each student (students to write what they have learnt from each lesson).
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• A student participation log (http://1006-w08.wikispaces.com/Student Alias).

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> As a presentation tool instead of software such as PowerPoint.
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• Planning an event, such as a school trip, or a conference.

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> Meetings - start with an agenda, add minutes, jobs to be followed through. (e.g. SRC)
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• An up-to-date knowledge base - (e.g. wikipedia).

Other Classroom Ideas

• Group prepares an online study guide.
• A collection of examples: e.g. supply/demand, vertebrates, alliterations, recipes, abstract art.
• A glossary or a taxonomy.
• A list of how knowledge gained on a subject can be used in the real world, e.g. maths.
• A FAQ list on a topic.
• A maths or physics wiki with a difficult long term problem for students to collaborate on.
• A procedures wiki - steps explained - e.g. how to use the welding equipment, science experiments, how mountains form, how a government bill becomes law, office protocols.
• Designs for experiments.
• Data collected from an experiment - could collaborate with other schools.
• Consumer issues - problems students have come across.
• A mock debate.
• Local history - interviews with community members.
• A travel brochure or journal.
• A choose your own story or a continuing story.
• A poem - student to collaborate.
• Literary analysis of a text, book reviews, author studies.
• Stories of experiences - e.g. ESL students
• A virtual art gallery of student's work.
• A study of comedy - include images and sound.
• An orientation wiki - for new students.

Wiki Examples

http://1006-w08.wikispaces.com/ Interactivity Design unit - U.S. tertiary
http://prometheus-frankenstein.wikispaces.com/ from Estancia High School, California - http://aristotle-experiment.wikispaces.com/
http://collaborationnation.wikispaces.com/ Homeschooling, see poetry page
http://art110.wikispaces.com/ Uni art site
http://reich-chemistry.wikispaces.com/ Chemistry
http://jspivey.wikispaces.com/ Global relations
http://cct300-f07.wikispaces.com/ Media - see A3 Wiki/Genre & Feedback
http://os8thsoth.wikispaces.com/ US History
http://plcvic.wikispaces.com/ PLC, Melbourne
Wiki-Teacher : All Resources http://www.wiki-teacher.com/resources_all.php
Flat Classroom Project http://flatclassroomproject.wikispaces.com/
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Crop-Circle
http://sil-techservices.wikispaces.com/ Smithsonian Institution Library’s Tech Services
http://blendedlearning.wikispaces.com/ Resources for teachers and learners interested in networked and blended learning

Early decisions

• How do you envision using the wiki?
• Who will be able to see the wiki? (the public? members only?)
• Who will be able to edit the wiki? (the public? members only?)
• Who will be able to join the wiki? (students only? parents? invited guests? the public? a group or class login?)
• What parts of the wiki will you “protect” (lock from changes)?
• Who will moderate the wiki for appropriateness, plagiarism, etc.?
• Will you, as the teacher, be notified of all changes? - RSS feeds.
• Who will have the ability to reset changes?
• Backup?

Rules

Add to your school computer use policy.
Also see: ACT Dept. of Edn. IT guidelines and Internet and Email Services: Acceptable Usage for Schools (NSW Dept. of Ed. & T.)
Teachers' First example of a Wiki Warranty.
Guidelines at http://worldhistoryatyhs.wikispaces.com/Wiki+Guidelines

Remind students

Make clear what is and what is not acceptable on the wiki - digital professionalism.
Appropriate language (no offensive, abusive, discriminatory, threatening or defamatory remarks)
Constructive language
High quality
Stay within the topic - don't go off at a tangent.
Cite sources - copyright.
Don't post personal information (use initials, first names only, aliases, etc.)
Could put a copy of a policy on the wiki.
Spell out the consequences for breaking rules, such as inapropriate language or vandalism of another student's work.

Security

	Security	Organizer	Member	Guest
	Closed (private, lock)	view edit	view no edit	no access	Only organizers can post and only organizers and members can read pages.
	Controlled (protected, lock)	view edit	view no edit	view no edit	Anyone can read, only the organizers can post (as in a general web site).
	Semi-closed (private)	view edit	view edit	no access	Only organizers and members can read and/or post.
	Semi-open (protected)	view edit	view edit	view no edit	Anyone can read, but only organizers and members can post.
	Open (public)	view, edit	view, edit	view edit	Anyone can read and/or post (use for a short time only, keeping all other pages locked).

Don't forget to lock pages which you don't want accidentally changed - in Wikispaces go to Manage Space>list pages, click Lock.
To set permissions in Wikispaces, go to Manage space>Members and Permissions

Free wiki hosts

Wikispaces - free and ad free access for K-12 education offer (see below).
Also see: WikiMatrix: Compare them all, Comparison of wiki software, WikiPlaces: What's so good about a wiki? and Teaching Hacks

Using Wikispaces

Look for K-12 Teacher link at http://www.wikispaces.com/. Tick Private (free for educators) and K-12 education use.
Info.: Basics in a tutorial: http://wikispaces.com/t/x/getting-started and another tutorial: http://www.wikispaces.com/site/tour#introduction
and EduWikis http://educationalwikis.wikispaces.com/
Manage Space links.
Recent Changes cf History links.

Adding members or not?

For no members - open for 1 class only to write notes? - don't forget to lock.
3 ways to add members: Members and Permissions or Invite People or add members in bulk as follows: Email help@wikispaces.com with a list of usernames, email addresses (if you have them - if you don't just leave them out), and passwords, and the space name.
user1,email1@address.com,password1
user2,email2@address.com,password2
user3,email3@address.com,password3
(Usernames - 3 or more characters - could use school code and student key: dckcsmithj
Passwords - 6 or more characters - could use student ID no.)

New Yorker Cartoon by Robert Weber

Created: 16/1/2008 | Last updated: 3/9/2008 | URL: https://dckclib.wikispaces.com/wikis
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